"I told you not to freak out," Curly warned Helga as the morphine waned and she woke up. She groaned at him, still a little drowsy from the medication. She went to rub her eyes but found her arms wouldn't move. She looked down to see straps around her wrists, attaching her to the hospital bed.

"Why are my hands tied up?" Helga asked lethargically.

"You were punching the bed while screaming your head off," Curly clarified. "And right before the medication took effect, you tried to take a swing at me."

"I did?" Helga's eyelids drooped.

"Afraid so," Curly chuckled as he took her vitals.

"Arnold?" she slurred. "Where's Arnold?"

Curly pointed to Helga's other side. She twisted her head to see locks of blonde hair on top of an oblong head. His eyes were closed but Helga could see his chest rise and fall with each breath.

"The surgery went well," Curly told her. "And we were able to remove the cyanide from his body. He will need to stay here for observation to make sure he doesn't get an infection from the stab wound. Once the morphine wears off, you'll be able to go home."

Helga nodded, keeping her eyes on Arnold. He's alive, she thought. She refused to blink, in fear that he will stop breathing the moment she does. For hours she lied in that position, grateful that he is right there. The morphine was soon eliminated from her body, and much to her chagrin, Helga was discharged from the hospital.

"Can't I stay here with him?" Helga asked Curly after she changed into a fresh, new outfit. The hospital had to remove the clothing she and Arnold came in case the poison was still in the fibers of the fabric.

"I don't make the rules," Curly replied reluctantly. "You can stay until visiting hours are over, but after that, you will be escorted from the premises."

Helga obeyed the hospital rules, although she did plot to hide out as a patient. She quickly scratched that idea when she realized it could jeopardize Curly's career. She sat beside Arnold, ghosting her fingers across his porcelain skin and soft lips. He has yet to wake up, but Helga knew he would eventually.

When she couldn't stay any longer, she exited the hospital to find the rest of the group waiting for her outside. The only ones who weren't there were Harold and Patty. Since Patty was due to give birth soon, she was advised to not make any unnecessary travels. Phoebe rushed over and gave her a hug. "The next time you have a near death experience, just die so I don't have to go through this ever again," Phoebe scolded.

Helga couldn't help but laugh. "You got it, Pheebs."

On the way home, Helga told them what happened with Brainy. She mentioned every detail about his revenge, stabbing Arnold, and the horrors that continued on in Auschwitz when they left.

"Those poor children," Lila sobbed after Helga mentioned the twin studies conducted by Dr. Mengele. "I can't imagine what they have gone through."

"It's sickening," Nadine agreed, shivering. "The whole thing is appalling."

"It's over now," Eugene said. "There's no more suffering there, and the Germans are being pushed back into Germany. It has to be over soon."

Helga soon stopped listening to the conversations around her. She kept thinking back to what Brainy told her. I might as well have shot them, she thought. They're dead because of what I did. I now have blood on my hands.

When they got home, Helga didn't want to talk to anybody. She went upstairs and inside Arnold's room. She went to his dresser and picked out one of his blue shirts. She always liked when he wore blue. Helga undressed and wrapped his shirt over her, buttoning it up. She crawled into his bed and wrapped around his pillow. His aroma was still there. Helga continued to inhale his scent as tears fell across her face as she fell asleep.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

The thumping woke Helga up from her restless slumber. It was the third night she slept in Arnold's room while he was in the hospital. He did wake up the day after Helga was discharged. Every day she went and stayed with him during the visiting hours. It became hard when she had to leave. She hardly ate or talked to anyone when coming back from the hospital. It was always the same: she'd go to Arnold's room, put on one of his shirts, and sleep in his bed.

With her eyes still closed, she took a deep breath in, feeling Arnold's scent tickle her nostrils. She nuzzled against his pillow, only to realize that thumping was happening directly beneath her. Her eyes opened up to see the outline of a shirt. She tilted her head up, and there he was, smiling back at her.

"Arnold?" Helga asked.

"Hey, Helga," he whispered. Helga pulled herself up and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back.

"What are you doing here? Why aren't you in the hospital? Are you okay?"

Arnold laughed. "Calm down. I'm fine. Curly checked on me this morning and said that the wound was healing well and there was no sign of infection, so I was discharged."

"I missed you so much," she said between kisses, not wanting their lips to part.

"I missed you too, Helga," he said softly. He softly pushed her away.

"What is it?" she asked, confused as to why he was pushing her away.

"I was told you weren't eating or talking to anyone when you were home," he looked at her dead in her eyes. Helga's cheeks reddened from the accusation. "Do you mind telling me what that's about?"

Helga bit her bottom lip, averting her eyes to avoid his stare. "Well…" she ran her fingers through her hair, "I was feeling guilty."

Arnold's face scrunched up. "Guilty about what?" he asked.

She sighed. "Do you remember what Brainy said what happened to some of the prisoners when they found out Curly and I snuck you guys out?"

Arnold's expression softened. "This is all about the executions that happened?" Helga looked down at the bed. "Helga, it's not your fault."

"I can't help but feel like it is," she said, still not looking at him. "One of the main reasons I chose the way I did was so that no one innocent would get killed. Now their blood is on my hands. I might as well have been there to kill them!" She covered her face to hide the tears that were descending down her red cheeks.

Arnold held her tightly. "It's not your fault that they were killed by a bunch of demons. And Helga, if you didn't save us, I'm fairly certain we would have died there. If it wasn't by gassing, it would have been by illness or shooting. There was no way we would have survived if you didn't intervene."

"So basically I was damned if I did and damned if I didn't," she sobbed into his chest.

Arnold sighed. "How would you have felt if you didn't even try to get us when you found out we were stuck in Auschwitz?"

Helga froze and mechanically turned her head up to him. "I would have never forgiven myself if I let you die there, but that doesn't change the fact that I feel that I caused those deaths."

"The Nazis caused those deaths, not you." He lifted her head. "You had no part in them. They retaliated because they couldn't stand that a German woman managed to sneak Jews out of a prison right under their noses. You outsmarted them. You outsmarted your own father! They had no idea what was coming to them." He took a moment to breathe, and switched tactics. "You know why you feel guilty?"

"Because I indirectly killed them." She replied bluntly.

Arnold shook his head. "Because you care. Deep down, you care about other people, even if you never wanted anyone to know that about you. Meanwhile, those thugs like Brainy feel no remorse. They feel nothing but pleasure in harming people. So go on and feel guilty. At least it shows there is remorse in your heart. Don't ever let that disappear."

Helga just stared at him. The tears have stopped, leaving their trails on her face. Her stomach grumbled. She sniffed, knowing what he said was true.

"I guess I better go eat," she whispered.

Arnold smiled at her, and carried her downstairs to eat. The house was in mayhem when they approached the bottom stair. Everyone was shouting and scrambling to get things.

"What's going on?" Arnold asked.

"It's Patty," Sid answered. "She's gone into labor. Harold just messaged us from the hospital. We're helping Phoebe and Lila to get them to the hospital to be with her while Rhonda and Nadine are going shopping to get things for the baby. We will be setting up the nursery before they come home."

"Is there anything you need us to do?" Helga asked, hoping that she wouldn't have to return to the hospital.

"I think you need to get yourself better first," Sid suggested. "Get something to eat, and once you gain your strength, you can help with the nursery."

"Okay," Helga obliged. "Tell Phoebe or Lila to tell Patty that I wish her and her child well during the birth."

"Will do," Sid said as he ran to get some stuff. Arnold and Helga looked at each other and then headed to the kitchen.

The nursery was completed just in time for the family when they returned home three days later. It had been a long labor, but resulted in a healthy child. The mother was also well and filled with joy by holding the small miracle in her arms.

"We're home!" Harold called into their house, with his wife and child behind him. The group emerged from the nursery to greet them. Everyone oohed and awed over the baby.

"So precious."

"Adorable!"

"Have you thought of a name?"

"We thought about it, and we wanted to make it special," Patty said. "So we decided to name her Timberly, in honor of Gerald's sister."

Gerald was not one to be emotional, but once he heard that, he blubbered like a child. "Thank you," he whispered to the married couple. "She would have been honored to have such a beautiful child named after her." He hugged both of them and then held Timberly in his arms.

They all took turns holding her. When Timberly was placed in Helga's arms, Helga felt uncomfortable at the beginning. Once she got Timberly settled, Helga could feel maternal instincts start to kick in. Timberly was beautiful, as Gerald said. She slept soundly wrapped in her blanket. Helga didn't want to let her go. She never thought she would be able to bond with a child, especially since she never wanted one. But now, she couldn't imagine her life without one of her own. Helga looked at Arnold, and from the look in her eyes, he knew she wanted to be a mother.

May 1945

Crowds in the streets were in an uproar. Church bells rang throughout. Drinks were poured.

"To the end of Hitler the coward!" everyone cheered and they fell into a drunken stupor.

The war in Europe has finally ended. Several weeks earlier, Hitler had died. Although it was originally announced he died in battle, the truth soon spread. He committed suicide in his hidden bunker in Berlin, along with his new bride, Eva Braun.

Celebrations have been continuing for weeks since the war had ended. Many refugees were excited at the prospect of returning to their homes and trying to return to their normal lives. No one in the group had the thought of returning to Germany. While they were thrilled that Germany has fallen, they knew that nothing would be there for them if they returned. Berlin was destroyed during the raids. They didn't know how much of their former home was in ruins, but they knew it wouldn't be worth going back.

As most looked forward to preparing their futures in Sweden, Rhonda and Lila began to get ready to leave Sweden for their homes back in the United Kingdom. They were to leave the next month, so everyone celebrated as much as they could, knowing their time together will soon end. However, there was one person in particular who wasn't joining in the festivities.

"Pheebs?" Helga asked as she went to her friend's room. Phoebe was sitting in her chair near the window, staring out at the gardens.

"Hey, Helga," she muttered, not taking her eyes away from the window.

"What are you doing up here all alone?" Helga asked, sitting next to Phoebe.

"I just wanted some quiet. It was too boisterous down there."

"Well, yeah, because we're celebrating!" Helga exclaimed. "The war is over!"

"Not everywhere," she muttered again, pulling herself close.

Helga soon realized exactly why Phoebe didn't want to celebrate. While the war was finished in Europe, the United States and Japan were still in battle.

"Oh, Pheebs, I'm sorry," Helga apologized. "I wasn't even thinking."

"It's not your fault. And you should celebrate. It's a good time for all of you."

"It's not a good time without my best friend," Helga said. "I refuse to celebrate anymore until the war is completely over, and you will be able to celebrate with us."

Phoebe smiled softly. "Thanks, Helga. But there is one more matter. Once Rhonda and Lila leave next month, we won't be able to live here anymore. I have nowhere to go, and neither does Gerald."

"Nonsense!" Helga cried. "You two will live with me and Arnold. We will be looking for a house next week and you two will stay with us as long as you need to. I won't let you refuse."

"You're such a good friend, Helga," Phoebe chuckled.

"Of course I am. I'm the best friend ever!" she joked.

August 1945

The group had went their separate ways. Rhonda and Lila bid their goodbyes, along with Nadine. She and Sid decided to go their separate ways. Sid decided to go back to Germany and settle a business venture with Stinky, who survived the war. Curly also went to Wales, finding a local hospital to work in. It was easy for him to find work with all the wounded soldiers returning.

Eugene met a woman at the synagogue and he moved to Denmark to be with her. Harold and Patty kept their house in Stockholm. Harold continued to work in the butcher shop while Patty stayed at home with the child. Arnold and Helga found a home near Harold and Patty. Phoebe and Gerald moved in with them and had their own rooms. Arnold and Helga decided on a December wedding, and made sure all of their friends would return to be there.

The two couples were enjoying breakfast in late August when they heard a knock on the door. Arnold got up and answered it.

"Sid?" Arnold asked, surprised to see his friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I know it's a surprise, but there is some news I found out that I think you should know."

"Come in." Sid walked in to see the faces of his friends that he hasn't seen in ages.

"Well, this is a surprise," Helga said, her mouth agape.

"What are you doing here?" Phoebe asked.

Sid looked at them hesitantly. "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

"What is it?" Gerald asked.

Sid took off his hat and wringed it through his hands. "I'm afraid there has been some serious bombing in Japan by the States. These aren't like any bombs used before. They're called atomic bombs, and they're deadlier than regular ones."

Phoebe clasped her hand over her mouth. "Where?" she asked through her hand.

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he replied regrettably.

"Oh no," she whispered. "My relatives."

"There's more," Sid somehow let slip through his teeth. Phoebe shut her eyes in anticipation.

"Yes?"

"We found out your father was in Nagasaki at the time of the bombing. I'm afraid he is also dead."

Phoebe's face paled, and she passed out.

A/N: From the way things look, the next chapter will be my last, followed by an epilogue. I can't believe it is almost finished! I have decided to do a Q&A session at the end of the epilogue. If you have any questions about my story, please ask in the reviews section. I'm open to any questions.

And thank you all for sticking with me for this long.